MLB Season 2024

[Amazin69]

Originally Posted by monkeyman576

Astros player caught cheating.

Suprise, suprise!

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...ubstance-check

Also, the sun rose in the East.

[Cobra Mgr]

Blanco out 10.

[Cobra Mgr]

One handed HR's

[Cobra Mgr]

Is there a least likable sports announcer voice out there than Buck Martinez?

[David Watts]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Is there a least likable sports announcer voice out there than Buck Martinez?

Both Craig Monroe and Rod Allen come to mind.

[Cobra Mgr]

Relievers.....MLB's RB's?

[kq76]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Relievers.....MLB's RB's?

I wish that story had been written when we first heard about his demands. Now it doesn't look like he was an ass, just that he wanted to protect his health to ensure he'd eventually get fair market value.

I wonder what kind of contract he might have gotten had the Astros not gotten desperate however. It sure sounds like many of the other teams were colluding not to sign him.

"An MLB spokesperson declined comment on the specifics of Hader's rules, pointing to a statement issued by management last year about the arbitration process: "During the last round of bargaining, MLB proposed replacing salary arbitration with a formulaic approach that would have paid more money to arbitration-eligible players in aggregate. That proposal was rejected. We continue to believe the salary arbitration system creates unnecessary acrimony between the clubs and players and wastes an enormous amount of time and money. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss changes to the system."

I'd be interested in reading more about this formula. A "formulaic approach" sounds like the NFL's franchise tag system and there's still acrimony with that so I'm not sure something similar in baseball will really solve the issue. I think just banning giving any consideration to saves would help though. Base the decision on better stats and you'd likely get a fairer result. Or are the judges in MLB's pocket regardless? How are they chosen?

[Cobra Mgr]

U can best believe nothing the owners proposed was to make things more fair for the players. And I'm certain there is some type of collusion going on again.

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by kq76

"An MLB spokesperson declined comment on the specifics of Hader's rules, pointing to a statement issued by management last year about the arbitration process: "During the last round of bargaining, MLB proposed replacing salary arbitration with a formulaic approach that would have paid more money to arbitration-eligible players in aggregate. That proposal was rejected. We continue to believe the salary arbitration system creates unnecessary acrimony between the clubs and players and wastes an enormous amount of time and money. We would welcome the opportunity to discuss changes to the system."

I'd be interested in reading more about this formula. A "formulaic approach" sounds like the NFL's franchise tag system and there's still acrimony with that so I'm not sure something similar in baseball will really solve the issue. I think just banning giving any consideration to saves would help though. Base the decision on better stats and you'd likely get a fairer result. Or are the judges in MLB's pocket regardless? How are they chosen?

MLB has wanted to get rid of arbitration ever since it started. It has proposed eliminating arbitration in favor of a performance-based formula many times over the years, but the players have steadfastly refused.

The only win in regards to arbitration MLB ever scored was getting eligibility raised from two years to three in the 1985 CBA. The players then clawed some of that back by getting 'Super-2' eligibility added in 1990..

[Le Grande Orange]

Originally Posted by kq76

How are they [arbitrators] chosen?

From the current CBA:


(5) Selection of Arbitrators. The Association and the LRD shall
annually select the arbitrators. In the event they are unable to agree
by January 1 in any year, they jointly shall request that the American
Arbitration Association furnish them lists of prominent, professional
arbitrators. Upon receipt of such lists, the arbitrators shall be
selected by alternately striking names from the lists. All cases shall
be assigned to three-arbitrator panels. The Association and the LRD
shall designate one arbitrator to serve as the panel chair.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Le Grande Orange

From the current CBA:


(5) Selection of Arbitrators. The Association and the LRD shall
annually select the arbitrators. In the event they are unable to agree
by January 1 in any year, they jointly shall request that the American
Arbitration Association furnish them lists of prominent, professional
arbitrators. Upon receipt of such lists, the arbitrators shall be
selected by alternately striking names from the lists. All cases shall
be assigned to three-arbitrator panels. The Association and the LRD
shall designate one arbitrator to serve as the panel chair.

Depending on how much you hate the other side and/or how anal you are, there are many potential conflicts uncovered by this rule.

Like, who strikes first, and who strikes back?

Are names stricken in pen or in pencil?

Is there a no-backsies rule?

[Cobra Mgr]

Biased ump of the day.

[Cobra Mgr]

Yeah, robo umps would be sooooo much worse.

[Amazin69]

Kill. Me. NOW.

****ing "Players' Weekend" is coming back, August 16-18.

My least-favorite anything pretty much ever, which stained the final few seasons of real MLB (2017-2019). I had thought this abomination was dead and buried, but no. Cringey self-promotion to appeal to kids, come on down!

Ewwwwwwwwwwww. Thank Lorde I won't be watching.

[Westheim]

Originally Posted by Amazin69

Kill. Me. NOW.

****ing "Players' Weekend" is coming back, August 16-18.

Not the worst thing Rob Numbfred has done to baseball, but close.

Pretty, pretty close.

[dsvitak]

This is odd. Runner interference on an INFIELD FLY rule, to get a second - and third - out, and lose the game.

I mean, the batter is already out, and the runners are not trying to advance. Pretty crappy way to end a game.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...erference-call

[dsvitak]

Originally Posted by Cobra Mgr

Yeah, robo umps would be sooooo much worse.

That's what did it for my Cardinals. They have won 7 of 9 since then. They needed SOMETHING to shake them up.

[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by dsvitak

This is odd. Runner interference on an INFIELD FLY rule, to get a second - and third - out, and lose the game.

I mean, the batter is already out, and the runners are not trying to advance. Pretty crappy way to end a game.

https://www.espn.com/mlb/story/_/id/...erference-call

Odd isn't the word I would choose. Asinine would describe it better. How can you interfere with a "catch" that has already been made virtue of the infield fly rule? It's like sending an electric bill to the dead con who was just executed in the chair.

[Cobra Mgr]

Bad call of the night

[Cobra Mgr]

CF gets out @ home plate. No really.